Discharge fitting assembly



July 9, 1968 F. M. NASH 3,391,870

DISCHARGE FITTING ASSEMBLY Filed 001;. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VE NTOR FLOYD M. NASH BY WARREN, BROSL EEO-YPHER a ANGLIM A T TORNE Y5 July9, 1968 F. M. NASH DISCHARGE FITTING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 11, 1965 IN VENTOI? FLOYD M. NASH WARkE/V, BRO$LER,6YPHEH a ANGLIMATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,391,870 DISCHARGE FliT'I'ING ASSEMBLYFloyd M. Nash, Little Rock, Ark., assignor to Jacuzzi Bros,Incorporated, a corporation of California Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No.494,344 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-4175) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flow lineto a swimming pool, terminates in the pool wall, in a socket fittingadapted for interchangeable installation of a discharge nozzle to form adischarge nozzle assembly for pool installations, capable of conversionto therapeutic assembly, whereby one assembly may readily be convertedto the other.

My invention relates to pool installations having a fitting fordischarge of water into the pool, and more particularly to a fittinghaving a built in volume flow control.

Such fittings are normally designed to provide a jet stream to establishand maintain a surface movement pattern, whereby to stimulate movementof floating debris in the direction of an installed skimmer, to effectremoval of such debis. Available fittings for such purposes, suffer fromthe drawback that when throttled down, the jet action is correspondinglyreduced, which is undesirable.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved discharge fitting assembly for poolinstallations;

(2) To provide a novel and improved discharge fitting assembly for poolinstallations, having volume flow control means which permits volumefiow adjustment without sacrificing jet action;

(3) To provide a novel and improved discharge fitting assembly for poolinstallations, which enables directional control of the jet streamtherefrom;

(4) To provide a novel and improved discharge fitting assembly for poolinstallations, capable of conversion to a hydrotherapeutic installation;

(5) To provide a novel and improved discharge fitting assembly capableof being formed of molded nonmetallic components.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view in section through a discharge fittingassembly of the present invention;

FIGURRE 2 is a front view in elevation of the fitting assembly of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, corresponding to that of FIG- URE 1, illustratingthe fitting assembly as converted to a hydrotherapeutic installation;and

FIGURE 4 is a front view in elevation of the hydrotherapeuticinstallation of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferredform, the discharge fitting assembly illustrated comprises a housing 1including a socket 3 and hollow tail extension 5 internally threaded forconnection to a pipe 7.

The socket has a chamber defined by a spherical surface area 9 adjacentto and surrounding the hollow tail extension, with the balance 11 of thechamber to the mouth thereof, being of greater radii than the saidspherical surface area 9, thus creating an enlargement of the chamber atand adjacent the entrance thereof.

The socket is adapted to receive a ball valve assembly 13 within thesaid chamber, such assembly including a ball valve body 15 of a diameterto provide a complementary fit with the aforementioned spherical surfaceice area, and having a flow passageway therethrough in flowcommunication with the hollow tail extension. At its exposed end, suchflow passageway tapers to form a nozzle 19 for discharge of a jetstream.

That portion of the passageway to the rear of the nozzle is providedwith a thread 21 to threadedly receive a hollow valve insert 25, formedwith flow openings 27 in the wall thereof, threaded installationenabling adjustment of the valve insert with respect to the tapered endor nozzle end of the passageway to permit adjustment of flow through thenozzle without sacrificing jet action, to the point of shutoff.

To permit of such adjustment conveniently, the tip or accessible end ofthe valve element is formed with the equivalent of a screw head 29,whereby, with the aid of a screw driver inserted through the nozzle endof the ball valve body, the valve element in question may be rotated tocause it to advance or retreat with respect to the nozzle surface,thereby to alter the effective discharge opening.

The valve element is inserted into the ball valve body from the rear,and to thereafter limit the maximum opening adjustment at the nozzle andat the same time preclude accidental disassembly of the valve elementfrom the ball valve body during adjustment in the direction of maximumopening, a screw 31 installed in the ball valve body so as to emergebetween threads thereof at a point behind the threads of the valveelement, will perform this function.

Means are provided for retaining the ball valve assembly in the socketchamber, such means in the preferred embodiment of my invention, takingthe form of a retainer ring 35 afiixed to the front edge of the socketand offering a complementary fit with the ball valve body- To effectsuch installation of the retainer ring, the housing is preferably formedwith a plurality of screw receiving bosses 37 in the enlarged portion ofits chamber, beyond the reach of the ball valve body, and the retainerring is held in frictional contact with the ball Valve body by suitableretaining screws 39 passing therethrough and anchored in such bosses.The front edge 41 of the socket is preferably recessed to receive saidretainer ring with sufiicient clearance to permit of such frictionalcontact with the ball valve body.

For installation purposes in the wall of a pool, the housing ispreferably formed with a peripheral anchoring flange 45 braced bysuitable front buttress flanges 47 and rear flanges, if desired whichflanges Will serve to positively anchor the assembly in a pool wall, andpreclude any possibility of the same angularly rotating from itsinstalled position following such installation.

The fitting assembly as thus described above, is adjustable both as todirection and as to volume. As to its volume adjustment, it is importantto note, that such change in volume of discharge is effected withoutsacrificing jet action.

The above described discharge fitting assembly offers the additional andimportant advantage that it lends itself to conversion to ahydrotherapeutic assembly, capable of performing the function ofhydromassage units capable of discharging an aerated jet stream.

Toward this end, I provide an assembly adapted to take the place of theball valve assembly, and such includes a ball valve body 51 of a size toprovide a complementary in with the sperical surface area 9 of thesocket, and having a forward cylindrical extension 53 integraltherewith, with a passageway 55 through said ball valve body andextension. An air intake passageway or passageways 57, are formedthrough the ball valve body and in communication with the passageway 55therethrough.

Flow of water through the ball valve body and extension is madeadjustable by means including an element 61 supported within the ballvalve body and having a conical surface facing in the direction of theextension, and a venturi 65 having a tapered entrance 67, said venturibeing adjustatbly threaded into said extension with the tapered entranceterminating in proximity to said element 61.

A control knob 69 affixed to the exposed end of the venturi, enablesrotation of the venturi to effect adjustments in the spacing between theaforementioned element 61 and the tapered inlet to the venturi.

To assure full flow of water through the venturi, the venturi is formedwith an elevated channel provided with an O-ring seal 71 in proximity tothe inlet end of the venturi. In the installed position of the venturi,such ring will engage the wall of the passageway through the ball valvebody, in a region between the aforementioned element 61 and the innerends of the air intake passageways 57, and to assure of mixture of suchair with the water flowing through the venturi, the venturi is provided7 with a plurality of peripheral openings 73.

The range of adjustment of the venturi may, if desired, be limited by apair of pins (not shown) inserted through the ball valve body to projectslightly into the passageway 55 to either side of the elevated channelin which the O-ring is installed. This serves the added function ofpreventing complete withdrawal of the venturi, or the jamming of thesame against the element 61.

The ball valve element and extension, with the venturi installedtherein, is retainable in functional position within the socket by aretainer ring 77 similar to that employed in the directional fittingassembly of FIGURE 1, except that the retainer ring for use in thehydrotherapeutic installation, is provided with an air intake nozzle 79extending upwardly from the ring and adapted to receive and support invertical position, a snorkel tube 81. This snorkel tube carries arotatable cap 83 including a depending skirt having side openings 87adapted, upon rotation of the cap to align with corresponding openings89 in the snorkel tube. By rotating the cap, air intake into the venturimay be adjusted from zero to maximum as represented by the full exposureof the openings 89. In this manner, aeration of the water flow throughthe venturi may be adjusted to satisfy desired conditions.

While the components of the above described assemblies might bemanufactured of suitable metals and alloys, they lend themselves tofabrication by molding, utilizing available plastics for the purpose.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, itWill be apparent that the same fulfills the objects attiibuted thereto,and while I have illustrated and described the same in considerabledetail, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specificdetails illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A dicharge fitting assembly comprising a housing including a socketand means for connection of said housing to a pipe, said socket having achamber defined by a spherical surface area adjacent said connectionmeans, with the balance of said chamber to the mouth thereof, of greaterradii than said spherical surface area, a ball valve assembly in saidchamber, including a ball valve body in c rnplementary fit with saidspherical surface area and having a flow passageway therethrough andtapering at its exposed end to form a nozzle for discharge of a jetstream, and a valve insert adjustably mounted for axial travel in saidpassageway to enable adjustment of said valve insert with respect tosaid tapered end, to' permit adjustment of flow through said nozzlewithout sacrificing jet action, means retaining said ball valve assemblyin said chamber, said means including a retainer ring at the front edgeof said socket and having a complementary fit with said ball valve body,means for limiting maximum adjustment of said valve insert in thedirection away from said tapered end of said ball valve body, and meansinterchangeable with said ball valve assembly for converting 4 saiddischarge fitting assembly to a hydrotherapeutic assembly.

2. A discharge fitting assembly in accordance with claim 1,characterised by said converting means including a ball valve body of asize to provide a complementary fit with the spherical surface area ofsaid socket, and an extension thereto, a passageway through said ballvalve body and extension, an air intake passageway through said ballvalve body and in communication with the said passageway, and means foradjusting liquid flow through said ball valve body and extension.

3. A discharge fitting assembly in accordance with claim 2,characterised by said adjustable flow means including an elementsupported within said ball valve body and having a conical surfacefacing said extension,

and a venturi adjustably threaded into said extension with its inner endin proximity to said element, and means for both retaining said ballvalve body in said socket and conducting air to said air intakepassageways, and means for rotating said venturi about its axis toadjust the same with respect to said element.

4. A discharge fitting assembly in accordance with claim 3 characterisedby said retaining and air conductiug means including a retaining ringaffixable to the front edge of said socket and adapted to provide acomplementary fit with said ball valve body, and an air intake tubeextending upwardly from said retaining ring and having communicationwith the interior of said socket.

5. A discharge fitting assembly comprising a housing including a socketand hollow tail extension for connection of said housing to a pipe, saidsocket having a chamber defined by a spherical surface area adjacentsaid hollow tail extension, with the balance of said chamber to themouth thereof, of greater radii than said spherical surface area, a ballvalve assembly in said chamber, including a ball valve body incomplementary fit with said spherical surface area and having a flowpassageway therethrough in flow communication with said hollow tailextension, to provide for discharge of a jet stream, through a nozzlehaving a tapered end and means cooperating with the nozzle for adjustingflow through said ball valve assembly without sacrificing jet action,and means retaining said ball valve assembly in said chamber.

6. A discharge fitting assembly in accordance with claim 5,characterised by that portion of said passageway to the rear of saidnozzle having a thread, and a valve insert in said passageway and inthreaded engagement with the threaded portion thereof, to enableadjustment of said valve insert with respect to said tapered end topermit adjustment of flow through said nozzle.

7. A discharge fitting assembly in accordance with claim 5,characterised by said ball valve retaining means including a retainingring applicable to the front edge of said socket and adapted to providea' complementary fit with said ball valve body.

8. A hydrotherapeutic assembly comprising a housing including a socketand hollow tail extension for connection of said housing to a pipe, saidsocket having a chamber defined by a spherical surface area adjacentsaid hollow tail extension, with the balance of said chamber to themouth thereof, of greater radii than said spherical surface area, a ballvalve body of'a size to provide a complementary fit with the sphericalsurface area of said socket and an extension thereto, a passagewaythrough said ball valve body and extension, an air intake passagewaythrough said ball valve body and in communication with said passageway,means for adjusting liquid flow through said ball valve body andextension, and means for retaining said ball valve body in said socket,said means including a retaining ring applicable to the front edge ofsaid socket, an air intake nozzle afiixed to and extending upwardly fromsaid retaining ring and having a flow passage in flow communication withsaid air intake passage through the ball valve body, and a snorkel tubeextending upwardly from said nozzle.

9. In combination, a housing for installation in the wall of a swimmingpool or the like, said housing including a socket and means forconnection of said housing to a pipe, said socket having a chamberdefined by a spherical surface area adjacent said connecting means, withthe balance of said chamber to the mouth thereof, of greater radii thansaid spherical surface area, a ball valve assembly and a therapeuticdevice, interchangeably installable in said housing to formrespectively, a discharge fitting assembly and a hydrotherapeuticassembly, said ball valve assembly including a ball valve body of aradius enabling a complementary fit with said spherical surface area,and having a flow passageway therethrough tapering at its exposed end toform a nozzle for discharge of a jet stream, and a valve insertadjustably mounted for axial travel in said passageway to enableadjustment of said valve insert with respect to said tapered end, topermit adjustment of flow through said nozzle and means for retainingsaid ball valve assembly in said chamber; said hydrotherapeutic deviceincluding a ball valve body of a radius to provide a complementary fitwith the spherical surface area of said socket and an extension thereto,a passageway through said ball valve body and extension, an air intakepassageway through said ball valve body and in communication to saidpassageway, and means for adjusting liquid flow through said ball valvebody and extension, and means for retaining said ball valve body in saidsocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,974,580 3/1961 Zimmerman et a1.239-457 X 3,024,801 3/1962 Carls 137-271 3,273,560 9/1966 Jacuzzi 4180 X3,302,640 2/1967 Jacuzzi 4-180 X 3,304,936 2/1967 Kosta 128-66 M. HENSONWOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

